Travel with us as we explore a short but quintessentially Arkansas drive along Arkansas Highway 105, heading north for about eight peaceful miles from Atkins up to Oak Grove. We kick things off right in the heart of Atkins, a small town nestled just off U.S. Highway 64 and hugged by the Arkansas River to the south. Known for its rural charm and easy access to Interstate 40, Atkins is a classic River Valley stopover — and once famous for its pickles, if local lore still counts for something. From the junction with Highway 64, we guide our wheels onto AR-105 and head north, rolling slowly through the main stretch of town. Here, you’ll see hints of old storefronts and tidy neighborhoods that reflect a laid-back small-town life still going strong in central Arkansas.
Crossing under the hum of Interstate 40, the road immediately shifts from a local town street to a gently winding rural highway. It’s a quiet corridor that threads the needle between open pastures and scattered woodlots typical of Pope County. Shortly past I-40, watch for the junction with AR-247 — a handy connector that splits off towards Pottsville and the farming communities east of Russellville. For travelers craving a moment off the interstate, this stretch of Highway 105 is an underrated backroad alternative that reveals the region’s slower pace and agricultural heartbeat. In spring and early summer, you’re likely to catch glimpses of hayfields, grazing cattle, and the rolling terrain that hints at the foothills beyond.
Continuing north, the surroundings open up into wider farmland with the occasional farmhouse tucked away behind lines of pine or hardwood trees. There’s not much traffic out here, which makes this drive feel more like a local shortcut than a through-route — yet that’s exactly the appeal. By the time we reach the outskirts of Oak Grove, we’re firmly planted in the kind of rural Arkansas that folks come to photograph: big sky, quiet fields, and the gentle hum of an engine on well-kept pavement. Our journey wraps up at the detour point, turning west onto Arkansas Highway 164 — a route worth exploring in its own right if you want to press on deeper into the countryside towards Moreland or circle back towards Russellville.
In all, this short drive up AR-105 offers a simple but genuine slice of Arkansas backroads — perfect for those who like to wander off the main drag and see what lies between the dots on the map. Whether you’re a local making a quick hop from town to town or a curious traveler piecing together an Ozarks loop, this highway segment is a quiet reminder of why the best parts of Arkansas often live just a mile or two off the interstate.
🗺️ Route Map
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